Epidemiology and Treatment Options for COVID-19: A Review

The Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is a highly transmittable and pathogenic viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which emerged in Wuhan, China and spread around the world. As of 19 June 2020 data from the World Health Organization (WHO) have shown that more than 8457305 confirmed cases have been identified in more than 200 countries, with the number of cases cutting across all continents. On 30th January 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19 as the sixth public health emergency of international concern. Genomic analysis revealed that SARS-CoV-2 is phylogenetically related to severe acute respiratory syndrome-like (SARS-like) bat viruses; therefore, bats could be the possible primary reservoir. The intermediate source of origin and transfer to humans is not known, however, the rapidhuman-to-human transfer has been confirmed widely via droplets or direct contact, and infection has been estimated to have mean incubation period of 6.4 days. Currently, controlling infection to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 is the primary intervention being used. However, public health authorities should keep monitoring the situation closely, as the more we can learn about this novel virus and its associated outbreak, the better we can respond.  Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, China, Phylogenetic, Genomic analysis, Remdesivir Le COVID-19 est une nouvelle maladie mortelle avec des informations limitées sur sa transmissibilité, la gravité de ses séquelles, ses manifestations cliniques et l'épidémiologie. Ce commentaire a analysé l'épidémiologie mondiale du COVID-19 parmi la population vulnérable. L'analyse a révélé que la plupart des cas pédiatriques de COVID-19 ne sont pas graves, mais que des maladies graves associées surviennent toujours chez les enfants. Tous les âges des enfants sont sensibles au COVID-19 et aucune différence significative entre les sexes n'existe. L'infection au COVID-19 pendant la grossesse a eu des conséquences fatales pour les mères, mais moins risquées pour le bébé. Les groupes de points chauds pour le COVID-19 sont les prisons / prisons, les maisons de soins infirmiers / de groupe et les établissements à long terme où résident la plupart des populations vulnérables. Les groupes ethniques minoritaires aux États-Unis et au Royaume-Uni sont exposés de manière disproportionnée à l'infection au COVID-19 et à la mort que les Caucasiens. La différence peut être due au fait que les minorités ethniques sont exposées à des risques plus élevés au travail et aux disparités structurelles économiques et sanitaires de longue date dans les deux pays. Il y a maintenant des changements dans les lignes directrices sur les personnes qualifiées pour recevoir des ventilateurs dans des situations difficiles dans de nombreux pays du monde si le système de santé est débordé.  Mots-clés: COVID-19, épidémiologie, population vulnérabl

Urinary Schistosomiasis and Its Potential for Cancer and Hepato-Renal Function Alterations among the Residents of Asejire Dam, South-Western Nigeria

Urinary schistosomiasis is of public health significance in sub-Saharan Africa with its prevalence being linked to carcinogenesis. However, there is a paucity of data to support this relationship. This study explored the prevalence and intensity of Schistosoma haematobium infections and its associations with cancer and hepatorenal function alterations in villages along the Asejire dam in the State of Osun, Nigeria. Urine samples from 152 consented participants (aged 18–75 years) from four communities were collected and examined for Schistosoma haematobium using the microscopy method. The blood serum of randomly selected infected and non-infected individuals (10 per group) was screened for tumor, inflammatory and hepato-renal function biomarkers. From the results, only one out of the four communities recorded cases of schistosomiasis with a prevalence of 26.5% (22/83) and overall infection prevalence was 14.47% (22/152). There was no statistical difference (p ˃ 0.05) in kidney, liver antioxidants, and lipid peroxidation markers in the infected and non–infected participants. The concentrations of antioxidants, inflammatory, and tumor markers were higher in Schistosoma infected individuals as compared with non-infected individuals. This justifies the need to monitor schistosomiasis-infected individuals for tumor, inflammatory and hepato-renal function biomarkers before they develop into cancer, liver, and kidney failure. Keywords:    Urinary Schistosomiasis; tumor; and inflammatory markers; antioxidants; hepato-renal function; Asejire dam Nigeri

Hypoglycemic and antioxidative activities of ethanol seed extract of Hunteria umbellate (Hallier F.) on streptozotocininduced diabetic rats

Background: Diabetes, a global cause of mortality in developing countries is a chronic disorder affecting the metabolism of macromolecules and has been attributed to the defective production and action of insulin characterized by persistent hyperglycemic properties. This global disorder harms organs of the body such as the liver, kidney and spleen. Medicinal plants such as Hunteria umbellate have been shown to possess hypoglycemic, antioxidative and anti-diabetic properties owing to the high concentration of active phytochemical constituents like flavonoids and alkaloids. The present study seeks to evaluate the hypoglycemic activities of ethanolic seed extract of Hunteria umbellate on streptozotocin-induced diabetes rats. Methods: Thirty (30) female experimental rats were randomly divided into five groups with six rats per group and were administered streptozotocin (STZ) and Hunteria umbellate as follows. Group 1 served as control and was given only distilled water, group 2 rats were administered 60 mg/kg STZ; Group 3 was administered 60 mg/kg STZ and 100 mg/kg metformin; group 4 rats were administered 60 mg/kg STZ and 800 mg/kg Hunteria umbellate, group 5 rats 60 mg/kg STZ and 400 mg/kg Hunteria umbellate. The fasting blood glucose level of each rat was measured before sacrifice. Rats were then sacrificed 24 h after the last dose of treatment. Results: The results showed that Hunteria umbellate significantly reversed STZ-induced increase in fasting blood glucose and increase in body and organs weight of rats. Hunteria umbellate significantly reversed STZ-induced decrease in antioxidant enzyme in liver, kidney and spleen of rats. Hunteria umbellate significantly reversed STZinduced increase in oxidative stress markers in liver, kidney and spleen of rats

Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Activities of the Twigs of <i>Andrograhis paniculata</i> on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Male Rats

Background: Diabetes is associated with chronic hyperglycaemia, long-term damage, dysfunction, and organ failure. This study aims to evaluate the antidiabetic activity of the twigs of Andrographis paniculata and its toxicological markers on Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Albino rats. Methods: A total of thirty rats were randomly divided into five groups of six animals each. Non-diabetic animals were treated with distilled water as non-diabetic sham control group 1, while diabetic animals (group 2, 3, 4 and 5) were treated with 60 mg/kg bw STZ intravenous (iv) and 100 mg/kg body weight (bwt) of metformin orally for group 2, distilled water for group 3, and 250 and 500 mg/kg bwt of Andrograhis paniculata (A. paniculata) for groups 4 and 5, respectively. The animals were dosed for 28 days, after which they were sacrificed. Liver and kidney function tests as well as livid profile tests were used as the biomarkers of toxicological assessment. Fasting blood glucose was carried out weekly. Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) was conducted on the 28th day of the antidiabetic assessment. Results: A. paniculata groups 4 and 5 were significant at different doses (p A. paniculata at 500 mg/kg bwt is most effective for its antidiabetic and organ protecting effects